U.S. patent number 10,632,879 [Application Number 14/820,175] was granted by the patent office on 2020-04-28 for heating and/or cooling device for a motor vehicle seat.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FAURECIA Sieges d'Automobile. The grantee listed for this patent is Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile. Invention is credited to Samuel Baudu, Anne Isabelle Dacosta-Mallet.
United States Patent |
10,632,879 |
Dacosta-Mallet , et
al. |
April 28, 2020 |
Heating and/or cooling device for a motor vehicle seat
Abstract
A motor vehicle seat element successively including: a pad; a
heating and/or cooling device including at least one heat and/or
cold generation element and at least one heat and/or cold diffusion
layer; and a cover.
Inventors: |
Dacosta-Mallet; Anne Isabelle
(Etrechy, FR), Baudu; Samuel (Boulogne Billancourt,
FR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile |
Nanterre |
N/A |
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
FAURECIA Sieges d'Automobile
(Nanterre, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
51570745 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/820,175 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160039321 A1 |
Feb 11, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 8, 2014 [FR] |
|
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14 57708 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B
3/36 (20130101); H05B 3/0014 (20130101); B60N
2/5678 (20130101); B60N 2/5692 (20130101); B60N
2/5685 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
2/56 (20060101); H05B 3/36 (20060101); H05B
3/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Other References
"French Search Report," issued in counterpart French patent
application No. FR 14/57708, dated Mar. 27, 2015. cited by
applicant .
Chinese Office Action for Chinese App. No. 201380053428.6 dated
Dec. 5, 2016, 3368 1.CN ||, 10 pages. cited by applicant .
Office Action for Chinese Patent Application No. 201380053428.6,
dated Jun. 30, 2016 including English language summary, 13 pages.
cited by applicant .
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion completed on Jan. 29, 2014
and issued in connection with PCT/US2013/060549. cited by applicant
.
International (PCT) Search Report and Written Opinion completed on
Jun. 17, 2016 for International (PCT) App. No. PCT/US2016/019743,
19 pages. cited by applicant .
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion completed on Feb. 10, 2014
and issued in connection with PCT/US2013/060864. cited by applicant
.
Korean Notice of Preliminary Rejection for Korean App. No.
10-2015-7010107 dated Jul. 9, 2019, 3368 KR ||, 23 pages. cited by
applicant .
Office Action dated Sep. 4, 2019 for U.S. Appl. No. 15/787,161,
4156 US-U ||, (pp. 1-12). cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Jules; Frantz F
Assistant Examiner: Tadesse; Martha
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A motor vehicle seat element successively comprising: a padding;
a heating and cooling device comprising at least one heat and cold
generation element and a diffusion layer; wherein the diffusion
layer comprises at least one layer of graphite; a metallic
thermally reflective layer; and a cover, and wherein the diffusion
layer is formed of a stack of a plurality of layers, wherein the
cover is arranged around the at least one heat and cold generation
element and the diffusion layer is located between the at least one
heat and cold generation element and a portion of the cover.
2. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 1, wherein the diffusion
layer is at least partially interposed between the padding and the
heat and cold generation element.
3. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 1, wherein the diffusion
layer is perforated.
4. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 1, comprising a
plurality of heat and cold generation elements formed of
Peltier-effect elements.
5. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 1, wherein the metallic
thermally reflective layer comprises aluminum.
6. A motor vehicle seat element comprising a seat padding, a
heating and cooling device configured to selectively heat and cool
an occupant supported on the motor vehicle seat element, the
heating and cooling device including at least one heat and cold
generation element, a graphene-based diffusion layer, and a
metallic layer, and a cover arranged to extend around the seat
padding, wherein the graphene-based diffusion layer is located
between the cover and the at least one heat and cold generation
element.
7. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 6, wherein the metallic
layer is coupled to the graphene-based diffusion layer.
8. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 7, wherein the metallic
layer comprises aluminum.
9. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 7, wherein the
graphene-based diffusion layer is formed of a stack of a plurality
of layers.
10. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 7, wherein the
graphene-based diffusion layer comprises graphite.
11. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 7, wherein the at least
one heat and cold generation element comprises a Peltier-effect
element.
12. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 11, wherein the
graphene-based diffusion layer extends more widely than above the
Peltier-effect element.
13. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 6, wherein the cover is
arranged around the at least one heat and cold generation
element.
14. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 6, wherein the cover is
arranged around the heating and cooling device.
15. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 6, wherein the at least
one heat and cold generation element comprises a Peltier-effect
element, the graphene-based diffusion layer is formed of a stack of
a plurality of layers, the graphene-based diffusion layer extends
more widely than above the Peltier-effect element, the metallic
layer is coupled to the graphene-based diffusion layer, and the
metallic layer comprises aluminum.
16. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 1, wherein the at least
one heat and cold generation element comprises a Peltier-effect
element, the metallic thermally reflective layer is coupled to the
diffusion layer, the metallic thermally reflective layer comprises
aluminum, and the diffusion layer is perforated.
17. A motor vehicle seat element comprising a cover formed to
define an interior space, a seat padding located in the interior
space, a heating and cooling device including a heat and cold
generation Peltier-effect element configured to heat and cool
selectively an occupant supported on the motor vehicle seat element
according to a current flow direction imposed through the heat and
cold generation Peltier-effect element, a graphene-based diffusion
layer, and a metallic layer and wherein the heat and cold
generation Peltier-effect element, the graphene-based diffusion
layer, and the metallic layer are located in the interior space
defined by the cover.
18. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 17, wherein the
graphene-based diffusion layer is formed of a stack of a plurality
of layers made from graphene.
19. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 18, wherein the
graphene-based diffusion layer is located between the cover and the
heat and cold generation Peltier-effect element.
20. The motor vehicle seat element of claim 19, wherein the
metallic layer is coupled to the graphene-based diffusion layer.
Description
The present patent application claims the priority benefit of
French patent application FR14/57708, filed Aug. 8, 2014, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety to the maximum extent allowable by law.
The present disclosure generally relates to motor vehicle seats
and, more particularly, to the forming of a heating and/or cooling
device for such a seat.
Motor vehicle seats are more and more often equipped with heating
and/or cooling devices (heating and/or cooling mats). Such mats may
be elements interposed between a padding and a cover of the seat
element (seat bottom piece, backrest or headrest) or may be
integrated in the padding, for example, by being overmolded.
The heat and/or cold generation elements forming the heating and/or
cooling devices generally are electric elements, typically heating
resistors or Peltier-effect elements. They may also be devices
having a heat and/or cold-carrying fluid flowing therethrough.
It would be desirable to improve the performance of heating and/or
cooling devices fitting motor vehicle seats.
Thus, an embodiment aims at providing a motor vehicle seat heating
and/or cooling device which overcomes all or part of the
disadvantages of usual thermal devices.
Another embodiment aims at improving the performance of such
heating and/or cooling devices.
Another embodiment aims at a solution requiring no modification of
seat assembly techniques.
Another embodiment aims at a solution which requires no
modification of the circuits for controlling the heat and/or cold
generation elements.
Thus, an embodiment provides a motor vehicle seat element
successively comprising:
a padding;
a heating and/or cooling device comprising at least one heat and/or
cold generation element and at least one heat and/or cold diffusion
layer; and
a cover.
An advantage is to improve the performance of a heating and/or
cooling device fitting a seat element.
According to an embodiment, the heat and/or cold diffusion layer is
at least partially interposed between the padding and the heat
and/or cold generation element.
According to an embodiment, the heat and/or cold diffusion layer
extends more widely than just above the heat generation
element.
An advantage is to improve the heat distribution by giving access
to areas of the seat element which do not enable to provide a heat
and/or cold generation element.
According to an embodiment, the heat and/or cold diffusion layer is
perforated.
An advantage is to avoid for moisture to build up at the level of
the cover.
According to an embodiment, the heat and/or cold diffusion layer is
made of graphite.
An advantage is to provide a heat and/or cold accumulator
effect.
According to an embodiment a thermally reflective layer is provided
in addition to the diffusion layer.
According to an embodiment, this reflective layer is made of
aluminum.
According to an embodiment, the seat element comprises a plurality
of heat and/or cold generation elements formed of Peltier-effect
elements.
An advantage is to be able to heat up or cool down.
According to an embodiment, the heat generation element is a
heating resistor.
According to an embodiment, the heat and/or cold diffusion layer is
formed of a stack of a plurality of layers.
An advantage is to improve the mechanical resistance, thus making
the handling easier during the assembly.
An embodiment provides a seat comprising a seat element.
The foregoing and other features and advantages will be discussed
in detail in the following non-limiting description of specific
embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, among
which:
FIG. 1 is a simplified top view of a conventional heating device
fitting a motor vehicle seat element;
FIG. 2 is a simplified top view of an embodiment of a heating
device fitting a motor vehicle seat element;
FIG. 3 is a simplified top view of another embodiment of a heating
device fitting a motor vehicle seat element;
FIG. 4 is a simplified exploded perspective view of a seat element
for a motor vehicle, fitted with an embodiment of a heating and/or
cooling device;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle
seat element; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of another embodiment of a motor
vehicle seat element.
For clarity, only those elements which are useful to the
understanding of the embodiments which will be described have been
shown and will be detailed. In particular, the forming of the seat
elements (frame, padding, and cover) has not been detailed, the
described embodiments being compatible with usual forms of seat
elements equipped with heating and/or cooling elements. Further,
devices for connecting the heat and/or cold generation elements to
one or a plurality of power sources or control devices have not
been detailed either, the described embodiments being, here again,
compatible with usual implementations.
It should be noted that, in the drawings, the structural and/or
functional elements common to the different embodiments may be
designated with the same reference numerals and may have identical
structural, dimensional, and material properties.
FIG. 1 is a simplified top view of a conventional heating device 1'
fitting a motor vehicle seat element.
The case of a heating device formed of a heating resistor 18
arranged in the form of a serpentine on the padding (symbolized by
a dotted pattern A) of the seating element (seat bottom piece,
backrest, headrest) is arbitrarily considered. The ends of
resistive element 18 are connected to a control and electric power
supply circuit 14 communicating (connection 16) with power supply
elements, not shown.
Saving power is an ever-increasing concern. Accordingly, a solution
enabling to improve the performance of a heating and/or cooling
device equipping a motor vehicle seat would be welcome.
In the following description, reference will be made hereafter to a
heating device. However, all that will be described hereafter
applies, unless otherwise specified, to a cooling device.
FIG. 2 is a simplified top view of an embodiment of a heating
device fitting a motor vehicle seat element.
It shows a heat generation device 1, for example, in the form of
one or a plurality of heating generation elements 12 (for example,
one or a plurality of serpentine heating resistors). Element 12 is
connected to a power supply device and control device 14
communicating (connection 16) with a power source. In the example
of FIG. 2, heat generation element 12 is distributed all over the
surface of the seat element.
According to this embodiment, a heat and/or cold diffusion layer 2
is interposed between element 12 and padding A having the heating
(more generally heating and/or cooling) device placed thereon.
According to an embodiment, layer 2 is a layer of a non-reflective
heat diffusion material, for example, a graphite layer. In this
case, layer 2 may indifferently be placed between the padding and
the heat generation elements, as shown in FIG. 5, or between the
latter and the cover, as shown in FIG. 6.
Preferably, layer 2 is made of Graphite, which can be, thanks to
its anisotropic properties, a better thermal conductor than other
material like copper or Aluminum.
Graphite is a stack of layers made of Graphene.
FIG. 3 is a simplified top view of an embodiment of another
embodiment of a heating device equipping a motor vehicle seat
element.
As compared with the embodiment of FIG. 2, heat generation elements
12 are located at different locations of the seat element and heat
and/or cold diffusion layer 2 extends more widely than just above
heat generation elements 12.
This embodiment highlights an advantage of the use of a diffusion
layer 2, which is to allow a thermal diffusion in seat areas where
the shape of the padding does not enable to provide heat and/or
cold generation elements or makes it difficult.
FIG. 4 is a simplified exploded perspective view of a seat element
for a motor vehicle, fitted with another embodiment of a heating
and/or cooling device.
As compared with the previous embodiments, diffusion layer 2'
comprises holes 22. The function of holes 22 is to avoid for
moisture to build up at the level of the cover. Thus, this
embodiment is more particularly intended for the case where the
material forming diffusion layer 2' is tight.
FIG. 4 also illustrates another embodiment of the heat and/or cold
generation elements, here in the form of a network of
Peltier-effect elements 24. Such an embodiment enables, according
to the current flow direction imposed through elements 24, to
obtain a heating or cooling effect.
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of motor vehicle
seat element.
FIG. 5 shows padding A topped with a heat and/or cold diffusion
layer 2 and with heat and/or cold generation elements 12, the
assembly being covered with a cover 3.
According to an alternative embodiment, the diffusion layer is
formed of a stack of a plurality of layers or of a multilayer to
improve the mechanical resistance and make the assembly easier.
The heating and/or cooling device is assembled either by being
interposed between the padding and the cover or by being overmolded
on the padding.
The fact of interposing a heating and/or cooling diffusion layer
has many advantages.
First, this improves the performance of the heating and/or cooling
device and decreases power needs.
Further, the heating and/or cooling diffusion layer will generally
be thinner than the heat and/or cold generation elements and will
thus provide access to areas of the seat element which are
otherwise not accessible.
Another advantage of the described embodiments is that they require
no modification of the techniques for manufacturing the padding or
the cover, or of the assembly techniques.
Another advantage is to require no modification of the circuits for
controlling the heat and/or cold generation elements and their
power sources.
According to the nature of the heat generation elements and to the
nature of the heat and/or cold diffusion layer, they may be
provided to be directly in contact (preferred embodiment) or not.
Similarly, the heating and/or cooling device is, preferably, placed
as close as possible to the cover to avoid losses between the
device and the person occupying the seat.
Various specific embodiments have been described. Various
alterations, modifications, and improvements will occur to those
skilled in the art. In particular, a plurality of heat and/or cold
generation elements (a plurality of heating resistors, a plurality
of Peltier-effect elements, a plurality of ducts conveying a
heat-carrying fluid) may be provided and associated with one or a
plurality of heat and/or cold diffusion layer. Furthermore one or a
plurality of reflective, preferably made of aluminum, can be added
to the diffusion layer. Further, the different embodiments and
variations may be combined. Finally, the practical implementation
of the described embodiments is within the abilities of those
skilled in the art based on the functional indications given
hereabove.
* * * * *